118 FOREST PLAKTIKG. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



PEOTECTIOlir OF FORESTS AGAIKST ANIMALS AND 

 ELEMENTARY FORCES. 



The doctrine of the protection of forests includes all 

 subjects and events by which forests and forest-prod nets - 

 may be imperilled, and the measures to be taken in order 

 to obviate and lessen the severity of such evils. These 

 protective measures are directed either against animals, 

 or elementary forces. 



I. — THE RELATION OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM TO 

 FORESTS. 



There exist many animals which are useful and pro- 

 mote the well-being of fores Is, others whose value is 

 doubtful, being at some seasons and times beneficial 

 and at others injurious — and still anotlier cltiss whose 

 presence is always detrimental to forestal growth. In 

 the second case — doubtful animals — the injury inflicted 

 is often ovei'estimated and war waged against animals 

 which, although doing litile harm, are persecuted be- 

 cause their habits are unknown, and, therefore, a preju- 

 dice prevails against them, 



A. — The Useful Animals. 



Among the mammals we find some carnivorous animals 

 which feed principally on noxious insects, (bugs, cater- 

 pillars, pupas, butterflies and their eggs) viz. : bats, some 

 species of the shrew-mouses, moles, hedgehogs, or porcu- 

 pines and skunks. 



The burrowing habit of the mole is sometimes inju- 

 rious in forest-nurseries, but in the ordinary forests it is 

 of great advantage, as it loosens the ground and renders 



